Former Auburn track athlete's idea: Pentagon funded athletic scholarships in exchange for military service

Why would the Pentagon care about paying for some jocks tuition? They need computer science, physics, software development, process engineering, electrical engineering, database managers and so on. Not some scrawny kid who trains to run a 3:45 1500

No. You don't want children under political operatives.

All current military gets a full college scholarship. It's called the Post-9/11 GI Bill and it fully covers a college education if you go to a state school. Essentially, that guy in your class who did drugs, was always in detention, failed his classes and eventually quit school, decided to get his GED, and then enlisted in the Army - that guy is now getting a 100% fully funded college education at the expense of the American taxpayer.

It is not likely a kid you describe would make it in the military. Yes, from time to time you hear of the military turning some kid around. More often that not someone lacking the discipline necessary to be in the military is not going to "see the light".

Interesting idea. Why not explore it?

So more help for the Kenyan pipeline programs?

Military needs bodies. They haven't met a Fiscal Year recruitment goal in over a decade. They just change the goal posts. A lot has to do with antiquated directives from USAREC. Recruiters were still or are still doing cold knocks and phone calls, and one Commander was forbidding his Recruiters from using social media lol.

Alan

As a theory it's certainly a bit interesting but in practice I wonder if it would move the needle. These kids wouldn't be signing up for ROTC or National Guard scholarships otherwise, is there data to suggest they'll sign up for a military commitment as freshmen if they can have nothing to do with the military until graduation?

Chances are that scrawny 3:45 runner is also a STEM major with education and skills that the military needs for future conflicts. That is who the military needs - smart, disciplined, mentally tough. If you read the article, this program is to recruit officers with advanced skills, not to fill out infantry units.